Upon further reflection, it really isn’t all that surprising. Steve Jobs’ gift was that he understood human nature. He held steadfast against the tide of subscription-based music services because he understands the connection we have with music. Music makes connections with the mind and soul that very few things do. More importantly, Steve understood that these same connections could be made with technology.

We read about research that has found we are essentially addicted to our iPhones. We connect with our iPads. We love our Macs. How many people have that same connection to their Dell? With their Motorola RAZR? Apple products have a way of becoming a part of us. The reasons for this are many, but they all trace their roots to one man: Steve Jobs.

My grandparents have lived to see perhaps he greatest technological changes that any generation will ever witness. From the introduction of the automobile to the internet, and everything in-between, the diversity of advances have been mind-blowing. What is amazing is how many of those advances are the result of one man’s vision and drive.

Steve Jobs was renowned for his presentation skills. From a technical standpoint, however, there was nothing entirely unique about his style. Heck, even my high school debate coach taught what is the basis for nearly every Steve-note: Tell the audience what you’re going to tell them, Tell them, and Tell them what you told them. The repetition is effective. But Steve went beyond that. What made Steve effective is his emotional connection to the products he was pitching. He loved his products, and it showed. He also knew that the same things he loved about the products were the same things we love about the products. His love and excitement translated directly to our love and excitement.

By all accounts, Steve sought to be the best at everything he did. I think he was successful. It would be hard to argue that he left the world a better place than it was when he found it. His drive to make the world better will live on, even in death. In his famous 2005 commencement address at Stanford, Steve said:

Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new.

He concluded that speech with a simple charge: Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. Steve understood his legacy. He also knew that his legacy had the chance to inspire others to follow him. To inspire others to drive to make the world a better place. His death, as he foreshadowed, would make way for the new. We all need to follow his advice to live our own lives, not the lives of others. We need to strive to make the world a better place.

I am humble enough to know that I will never be as great as he was (although you never know). All I do know is that I’m hungry. And feeling a little bit foolish . . .

Thank you, Steve.